HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2007 (13) RESOLUTION in SUPPORT of the WISCONSIN ALCOHOL TREATMENT ACT
(LRB- 1930/1) PROPOSED by STATE REPRESENTATIVE TERESE BERCEAU
Resolution No. / 3 (,)
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, Wisconsin citizens rank 4 highest per- capita for beer consumption, and 3rd
highest per- capita for consumption of all alcoholic beverages; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin citizens over the age of 18 lead the country in frequency of past
month binge drinking (21.8 %) and daily heavy alcohol use (7.4 %); and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin County Ranking from the University of Wisconsin Public
Health Institute ranks St. Croix County 69` highest out of 72 Counties for past month
binge drinking frequency (33.9 %); and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin youth in grades 9 through 12 lead the nation in underage past
month binge drinking (31 %), and University of Wisconsin- Madison students are second
in the nation (59 %); and
WHEREAS, recent focus groups and health surveys of St. Croix County in 2003
identified alcohol use in the County as a HIGH public health priority; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin currently has the 3 lowest beer tax in the nation ($2.00 per
barrel or $0.065 per gallon or $0.036 per six -pack or $0.006 per bottle); and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has not increased the beer tax since 1969, losing 82% of its value
due to inflation; and
WHEREAS, each Wisconsin resident on average pays only $1.82 a year in beer taxes;
and
WHEREAS, the $9.7 million collected from the beer tax each year covers only a fraction
of the $825 million in annual alcohol - related health care costs, and the $2.7 BILLION in
alcohol - related policing and court costs, incarcerations, traffic crashes, lost productivity,
academic failure and premature deaths; and
WHEREAS, the Acting U.S. Surgeon General on March 6, 2007 issued the first Call to
Action for every member of society to work to prevent and reduce alcohol use by children
and adolescents; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Statutes § 251.04 (7) states, "A local board of health shall
assure that measures are taken to provide an environment in which individuals can be
healthy;" and
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WHEREAS, additional funding is needed for adult and youth evidence -based alcohol
prevention and treatment in St. Croix County.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
recommends to Wisconsin's Governor and legislators that an inflationary adjustment of
the Wisconsin beer tax to $10.00 per barrel (or $0.18 per six -pack or $0.03 per bottle) be
enacted immediately, and all revenues from this adjustment be designated for the
development of a State comprehensive alcohol control program utilizing evidence -based
prevention and treatment practices.
Offered by the Health and Human Services Board on May 15, 2007.
YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE
X FI n n Esther Wentz j! ?� -
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X ❑ 11 n Tom Caflisch j /� %
n n n X Lois Burri
Fl 1 ❑ X Ron Troyer
X n n 1 Linda Luckey ^ "`t-
❑ X n 1 1 Gordon Awsumb
X n n Dr. Michael Kretz
X ❑ ❑ n Deb Rasmussen
X 1 1 n n Leon Berenschot
This Resolution was adopted b the St. Croix County
Reviewed by Corporation Counsel on Board of Supervisors on a Uj 1 So�IY.)7
✓�. v�.w �-� �^. --�.C/ --, �7 tom/ ° /
Greg Ti erman, Corporation Counsel Cindy Campbe , County Clerk
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